The reigning Premier League champions have put up a limp defence of their title, lying in seventh place with five games left to play and almost certain to miss out on qualification for the Champions League.

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But Mata, who moved to Old Trafford from Chelsea in January, argues that the Red Devils' problems should not be solely blamed on Moyes's struggles to adapt in his first season in charge and is keen for everyone associated with the club to remain united.

"We have to be together," the Spain international told the Daily Mirror. "Now is not the time to blame anyone. Now is not the time to look for guilty people.

"Now is the time to stick together - with the manager, with his staff, the players and with the people on the board of the club. We need to carry on, to stay with the manager. We need to believe in him because, as players, we know we have to improve.

"It's not just the manager, it's not just the tactics. It's all of us. It's not the time to blame one person. We are all together in this.

"Some of my friends told me, if this situation was happening in another club in Spain, it would be different but the club and the players are behind the manager.

"We need to be strong as a team, as a dressing-room, and keep working hard. We need to improve, we know it, but we need to do it together."